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No matter how many changes black America goes through, one thing that has always made our community uncomfortable is the idea of losing faith in God. As part of a national Black History Month campaign, the organization African Americans for Humanism wants to get more of us to think critically about religion and provide support for those who are questioning or lacking faith. The group is currently drawing objections from religious leaders because of a billboard it would like to display in Dallas, Texas at an intersection surrounded by black churches. The group claims that it is not seeking to convert anyone away from Christianity, but some leaders and congregation members see it as much more than that. David Lane, the pastor of a church near the billboard site, had this to say:

“Traditionally African Americans come out of a tradition that is led and motivated by faith. We are where we are and we are who we are primarily because we’ve chosen to believe in a power that’s bigger than ourselves. It will create a lot of dialogue. There will be congregations of all kinds in this area who will be challenged by the fact that such a movement is at our door.”

The billboards do not bash Christianity or any particular way of life, but the dialogue the group is trying to open up is still one that many do not want to hear. Take a look at this news report to watch a member of African Americans for Humanism explain his beliefs.

The issue of religion has always been complicated in America, and even more so in the black community, but why is it so frightening to ask people to think about faith critically? How does it threaten your religion if someone else decides that they don’t believe what you do? I know that I’m asking the great unanswerable questions here, but I am really curious about what people think, especially those of you who are strongly religious or atheist.